GMC 22 | Saturday | Germany
Featherweight, Saba Bolaghi (10-1-1)
Bolaghi is a decorated wrestler listing achievements such as the youth German Freestyle Wrestling Championship, Junior World Championships, and the Bronze medal at the Adults European Championships. He is very physically strong and executes his level-changes well. When he gets the fight to the mat, he is dangerous with his chokes having won four that way. His striking isn’t much but he makes up with for it with speed and once he is in the distance, the takedowns come naturally. He fights Ömer Solmaz (8-1) who offers a good challenge.
Bellator 230 | Saturday | Italy
Light heavyweight, Vadim Nemkov (10-2)
Nemkov is a three-time World Combat Sambo champion, with his only two losses to top MMA prospects Jiri Prochazka and Karl Albrektsson. Nemkov is very well-rounded, has solid wrestling and sound kickboxing on the feet. Nemkov uses the jab effectively and shows heavy hands with one-punch knockout power. He is growing with each fight and at only 26 he has a great future — possibly as a future Bellator champ. He fights former middleweight champ Rafael Carvalho (10-2).
Welterweight, Ashley Reece (8-1)
Reece is a bit one-dimensional with his wrestling, as his goal always is to get his opponent to the mat. Reece does do good work in the clinch with dirty boxing and knees, he is a wrestler first though as when he gets his hands on his opponent they are going down. Reece is a strong athlete shown in his fights with his takedowns and on the mat when he grabs a limb. Reece might not have too much on the feet but his aggressiveness and solid cardio are going to be hard for opponents to overcome. He fights Stefano Paternò (12-3-1) who is a good test.
One Championship | Saturday | Japan
Flyweight, Jingnan Xiong (14-1)
With Xiong, there isn’t much technical ability nor really any defense all around. But what does have is toughness and heavy aggression and that alone has won her the ONE Championship title. On the feet, she does get wild but her always pressing forward style, throwing constant hooks, really breaks her opponents down as she can take damage to deliver some of her own. Her takedown defense is an issue that needs some work, but she does scramble well and has never fought off her back too long. Xiong does have decent wrestling and on top, has good grappling and solid ground and pound. She moves down in weight to fight Angela Lee (9-2), who she just beat, for a second title.
Lightweight, Christian Lee (12-3)
The younger brother of atomweight (or strawweight given ONE’s weight cutting and her attempt at a second title) star Angela Lee, it could be argued that Christian is just as much of a prospect as his champion sibling. Lee is excellent on the feet, being quick and dynamic with outstanding footwork. His abilities on the mat are there when needed, holding four submission wins to date. At only 21, Lee could be a future star but just needs to keep on progressing at the rate he currently is. He fights Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev (8-1)
Lightweight, Saygid Guseyn Arslanaliev (8-1)
Saygid has shown impressive explosiveness in blitzes with a barrage of strikes and kicks as everything he throws is with ill intentions. That includes his wrestling as well. Though it might better be described as him rag-dolling his opponents, showing the ability to suplex his doe with ease. Saygid has two submissions and overall is very slick with his jiu-jitsu. At only 24-years old the sky is the limit. He fights Christian Lee (12-3).
Flyweight, Lito Adiwang (9-2)
Fighting out of the Philippines, Adiwang is on a roll winning his last five fights. On the feet, Adiwang is very explosive and has a lot of power in his hands. On the mat, he is good on top and has solid ground and pound. He can be a bit flat-footed but makes up for it with his blitzes and power. Adiwang has that one-punch stopping power. He fights Senzo Ikeda (12-7-1).
